Up Through the Ashes (Shy/Core/Open at Request)

[Claire]

It was long since dark by the time Claire and Shy had reached the cottage again, the cold night air sweeping down from the forest and mountains. Claire flung the door open, immediately removing her cloak and starting to strip from her jerkin and boots. Her back still ached from the force of magic to smack into her back but she couldn’t focus on that now- there were actually more important things to attend to.

“Take that armor off- are you hurt? I can bandage-” Claire flung her boots to the other side of the main room and the jerkin quickly followed. The woman was left standing in the middle of the room, her chest still bound flat under the loose black shirt, bag in one hand and newly found bloodstained sword in the other. Claire dropped the bag to the ground, holding up the sword to the light. A noise like a ‘tch’ escaped her lips and she yanked her shirt out from her trousers, wiping the sword clean on her shirt. Her thoughts were incomprehensible- there was so much to cover. Successes and failures, injury and victory.

Roland had seen her. She had not anticipated that. But with any luck he would be dead now. Claire looked back to Shy, who was hopefully removing her armor at this point. “Do you have any way to contact Rivers? He-” she held the sword up, “-belonged to Aria. I think she’s still in the castle, she wouldn’t have given him up willingly.”

Claire looked down at the sword, passing her fingers over the bright blue jewel set in the pommel. “Citlali, we need to speak. Seanait needs to see you as well.”

[Deleted]

Séanait was really starting to feel the weight of all her armour by the time they reached the cottage. She had taken off her leg armour and stowed it in a bag to fee up her legs, but it was still some extra weight to carry. She was also feeling guilty about not being able to protect Claire fully and having to be saved by her. It was a blow to her pride that Claire had been the saviour this time round, made worse by her crush on the woman.

With a relieved sigh, Séanait tossed her spear and spare pieces of armour down beside the door and clanked over to her bed to take the rest of her panoply off. Claire's concern broke through Séanait's brooding silence and she had to laugh. Here she was, encased in the finest armour available, and Claire was asking her if she was injured. It made Séanait love Claire just a little bit more and hope that maybe, just maybe, Claire might be receptive if she made some advances.

"I'm fine. What about you? It looked like Roland got you good."

Séanait managed to get her gauntlets off and began to fumble at the straps for her vambraces as Claire asked if she had some way to contact Rivers and showed Aria's sword. The few times Séanait had seen Aria she hadn't noticed the sword and none of the other Fated had seemed to remark on Aria having such a distinctive sword, but she took Claire at her word. Getting one vambrace off and then switching to the gorget, Séanait replied,

"Yeah, he gave me a stone that should allow me to contact him. I've got it around my neck. Help me with this, would you?"

Then things went off the deep end. Claire started talking to the sword as though it was a person and saying that they both needed to speak with the sword. Séanait raised an eyebrow and kept working at the fastenings of her armour, but her voice was concerned rather than amused.

"There's no one else here, Claire.Did you hit your head when Roland blasted you?"

[Core Noru]

The hilt became warm within Claire's grasp. The beautiful metal sword scrubbed clean from the act of possibly committing murder. The crisp mirror like metal good as new the moment the young maiden had finished polishing away the rest of the blood that once stained it's surface. The blade then slowly starting to glow a faint blue hue on Claire's command of needing to speak, the glow quickly taking form to mimic a small aura-flame.

" The HELL was that?! You could of gotten yourself killed, have you gone absolutely suicidal woman?! " The tone of Core's voice obviously not sounding happy within Claire's thoughts. " Are you hurt? " The blue aura flame fluxed; Now less of a ignited flame and more of a focused glow. Core's tone serious as he spoke through the sword to Claire.

" I want to know why you were there in the castle in the first place. That is my first question to you, I'm assuming that you still are going by madam, that you want to 'talk' right now. So forgive me if I sound like a asshole, but this was not something I truly expected and I'm a little…Taken back? is that the right words to describe how I feel at this moment? " Core scolded before going silent once more, the flame trailing off into a low faint glow. The handle no longer heating up under Claire's grasp.

" Looks like your friend thinks you're crazy.." The anger not verbally present, however the emotion was still there he chuckled when Séanait voiced out her disbelief of anyone else being here within the room.

[Claire]

The hilt seared with heat under Claire’s palm but she held firm, the darkness inside the cottage suddenly lit with a blue glow. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the glow and she grinned, holding the blade flat. “Not suicidal, but I am glad to see you again as well.”

She rolled her shoulder back, her back aching still. “Ah- did you miss that? Yeah, hurts a bit.” Claire listened to him rant on, arching an eyebrow as he did so. Then the grin seemed to broaden further on her face. “You’re worried about me.” she sounded incredibly pleased at the thought of that.

“Of course I am still a woman, don’t be an ass. And I was in the castle looking for the only thing that connects me to Mother but I found you instead. Would you have preferred that I left you in that desk? Why the hell are you away from Aria in the first place to begin with?” At Core’s last remark, she turned her head to Shy. She raised an eyebrow a little.

“Ah- Seanait. Come here-” she walked to Shy, still illuminated in the soft blue light from the sword. She took her hand, pressing her fingers to the face of the blade. “I want you to meet Core. Core, this is Seanait. And she wouldn’t think I was talking to myself if she could see your pretty face. So ah- humor me.”

[Rivers]

“Well that was a unique display.” Calls a voice as Rivers calmly saunters out of the wall. He looked around and when he sees the sword lets out a long sigh. Then he recites:

Oh king within the shining sword,
called by the queen's questing word
A shrouded in flames of blue,
enlighten those without a clue.

He leans his back against the wall and raises an eyebrow at the pair. “I just got out of the castle, looks like you tow caused quite a fuss.” He explains, though he'd broken into a conspiratorial smile. “They're going to start looking for you two soon, I wouldn't recommend staying here.” He advises, though even as he says this he looks at the pair and the sword curiously and certainly did not seem to be in a hurry.

As he watches them he takes off the blonde wig and disguise ring he was wearing causing his slightly altered features to return to normal, though in place of his usual long brown coat he appeared to be wearing a black and purple brocade vest with brown pants. He also takes off the boots that were designed to make him appear a couple of inches taller than he was.

[Deleted]

The sword was glowing. WHY WAS THE SWORD GLOWING? Séanait watched warily, fingers on her half undone gorget, as Claire had a one sided conversation with the sword. It seemed as though Claire and the swords had some sort of shared history, or at least Claire seemed to think so. The fact that the sword was glowing seemed to hint that Claire was actually talking to the sword and wasn't suffering from a brain injury.

As she listened to Claire's responses, Séanait felt that Claire was just a little bit too pleased that the sword was concerned about her health and immediately felt guilty. She was reading too much into things and becoming the sort of petty woman she hated. It wasn't even as though she had anything beyond a friendship with Claire. What should she care if Claire was really pleased that the sword was concerned about her health?

Claire was just inviting Séanait to join in on the conversation - which, despite her usual reservations about magic, Séanait was curious to hear exactly what it was saying to Claire - when someone stepped out of the wall. Acting on pure instinct, Séanait reached for her sword and tried to draw it, but the partially disassembled state of her armour fortunately prevented her form so much as drawing it before she took in who it actually was.

Sighing and releasing her sword, Séanait slumped back against the wall.

"You're looking fancy today."

[Core Noru]

Core was silent for a moment, taking in the new environment that was still some what dark. A cottage? Perhaps even a small house. Core thought, returning his attention to Claire as she made a remark about not being suicidal. Something he wasn't so sure about sense never in his life has he seen this woman not dive head first into trouble… So at least that hadn't changed. His anger seemed to subside as a small chuckle escaped him. The blade fluttering with the blue glow to flow along with his chuckle.

" Perhaps. I am but a soul of a man my lady. " Core replied in a charming tone listening to her as she went on about still being a woman and not to be an ass. However why she was in the castle still eluded him. What did she mean about connects me to 'mother'? " now, now, see the pot is calling the kettle black here. Don't ask me not to be an ass and turn around and be the same. Thats not very lady like at…." Core paused. " Or is it? " saying the last bit in a low voice under his breath before continuing in more audible tone for her to hear. " I'm thankful that you did get me out of the desk, my lady knight in not so shiny armor. However I was taken from Aria by the Royal Guard Captain when she was brought back into the castle for interrogation. Most likely because of the events at the Gallows…. The rest I'm not 100% sure sense i've been stuck with Roland and in a desk…" Core grumbled, not telling Claire everything that he knew but at least why he was in the desk in the first place.

When Claire began to call Seanait, Core went quiet once more. Feeling the other hand touch the handle for a moment and then released before any words could managed to be said. " Rejected Oooo. Thats fine, some people just can't handle the idea of me." Core chuckled, projecting himself before Claire. His body still a faint blue shadow of a phantom within the room. His hair cascading past his shoulders as he stood there. Sense Claire was the only one holding the sword, no one else could see him. His hand balled into a fist and placed on his hip as he looked down at Claire with an arch brow and a slight smirk.

" So what now? Are you going to run and hide or what? " He asked some what curious to what she would say, tilting his head to one side ignoring the others.

[Claire]

Claire looked aside sharply at the sound of singing, her fingers gripping the hilt of the sword tightly. Had the king’s people found them already? So soon? Had they been following? But then it soon became apparent who this was and Claire’s expression contorted into a scowl. “Tell me something I do not know.” She sighed, looking back down at the blade, “Not the kind of fuss I intended to make but it will do for now. Also, it is called a door. Please use it next time.”

Claire rumpled her hair, looking over to Shy as she slumped against the wall, then back to the blade and the soul trapped within. The glow on the blade rippled as the man laughed. She frowned again. “Do not my lady me, I am not your lady.”

She listened to him speak, chewing on her lower lip as he explained why he was away from Aria. Claire turned her head a little back to Rivers. “...Aria is still at the castle. I am afraid I need a big favor. Is there any way you can see if she is all right? If she is still alive, that is.” her fingers toyed with the collar of her shirt, clearly trying to keep it from exposing too much skin. If Aria was going through even half of what she had… she would not wish that willingly upon anyone.

Claire looked back to Core, half missing his joke as he formed as more of a man, only visible to her. A wave of... it must have been nostalgia washed over her. In the darkness of that pit, she thought she might never see this face again. At least like this- only worn similarly on the man who would have murdered her. She had been brought to this country to find this, to find him, after all. A sword etched into the back of a Fated girl. At once she looked incredibly relieved at the sight of him, then confused. She lifted her hand from her collar, reaching out and brushing her fingers through the edges of the phantom’s hair, touching nothing.

“...you do look so alike.” Claire thought of the man called King, his face burned into her memory in ways she would rather forget. And that man with the eyepatch… she couldn’t recall his name now. A Captain with dark hair. She withdrew her hand suddenly, her fingers curling. “With two men- did you have brothers? You look so much like the King and that knight… it is uncanny.”

[Rivers]

“I don't like doors, they tend to be booby trapped.” He replies smoothly.

At Seanait's comment of him looking fancy Rivers shrugs. “Need to dress up when I am inside the castle.” He replies in a distracted tone. He in fact had needed to leave somewhat suddenly after everything was happening, he did not want to be caught without a good story since it might force him to reveal the 'mysterious patron' he laid claim to.

When Claire asks her favor he simply shrugs. “I have already checked on her, does being able to tell you she is fine invalidate the favor?” He asks curiously. Though as he watches Claire he frowns “you know that's Boss's sword right? Not that I don't think the star crossed lovers scenario is an interesting one.” He admits, though he gives Shy and sympathetic glance.

[Deleted]

Apparently Rivers had been to the castle just now. That was pretty ballsy in Séanait's opinion, given the short period of time since the whole rescue fiasco, but she supposed he had been disguised, and most of those who'd been close enough to get a good look at him were dead or on his side. Even so, it was still a brave move and had apparently paid a dividend, given Rivers' apparent locating of Aria.

Claire, meanwhile, was still talking to her sword and reached out, as though stroking someone's face. Séanait's blood ran cold as Claire suddenly withdrew her hand and mentioned that the sword looked like the king and Captain Garrett. Rivers' comment about a "star crossed lovers" story didn't do much to warm her. She might not have heard the phrase before, but the meaning was easy enough to work out thanks to Rivers' sympathetic glance.

Séanait didn't know what to do, or think. Rivers seemed to be saying that this sword and Claire went way back and that they were, what, lovers? How could that be? With a suddenly burst of desperate energy, Séanait crossed the room and grabbed hold of the sword's pommel, her hand touching Claire's, which sent her heart to fluttering.

The man she saw all of a sudden was beautiful. Still, she wasn't expecting to see him, so she gave a gasp of surprised and released the pommel. Then, feeling a bit foolish, she grabbed back hold of the sword.

As she had noticed, the man was beautiful. He wasn't just handsome or merely pretty, he was honestly beautiful. Séanait didn't usually go for his type but, wow, she'd make an exception for him. Then it hit her like a blow to her gut that the sword might be more than a sword. It was only then that she noticed the resemblance Claire had mentioned.

Feeling weak at the knees, sick to her stomach and guilty as all hell for feeling jealous of the sword, she asked Claire in a hesitant voice, "You know this sword? Man? Whatever?"

[Core Noru]

Core smiled when Claire turned to speak with those within the room. He listened quietly as she scolded River’s entering without making a ‘proper’ entrance. After all, her grip didn't let up until she was done scolding the boy. His smile slowly fading the moment she turned back with that same scolding frown. Obviously not too fond of being called a ‘lady’, however her tone caught him completely off guard. His brow raised as he sighed and pressed his lips into a tight frown.

“ Sorry; I keep forgetting you are not ‘her’… I hope you could possibly forgive a tragic soul, such as myself, for calling you something that you do not wish to be.” Core spoke in a soft tone, the sorry genuine as he shrugged his shoulders and gave Claire a head nod of respect. His lips pressing tighter together as he frowned even more at her sudden request of seeing if Aria is still within the castle. “I am afraid I don’t have that sort of capability… My movement and limitations are well, bound to this sword un-fortunately. “Core sighed, concern obvious in his voice as he crossed his arms across his chest. Normally if he had a body of his own then this wouldn't have been a problem or concern, but sense he didn’t have a body. He felt powerless, even more so now that he couldn't tell if Aria was safe or not. It was like a wave of dread that slowly washed over with every un-known hour to pass. His blue eyes trailing over to River’s as he spoke up about Aria being fine and that he was working within the castle.

So apparently Aria had more than just Garrett as an Ally on the inside. That was good, the young lass would need all the help she could get when it came to living within the castle. Now even more so that Noku knows there is another ‘cursed’ Noru alive. He wanted to say something, but he knew that River’s wouldn't hear him. His comment about star crossed lovers caused him to scowl a little bit. He turned his head so Claire couldn’t see his pained expression. He knew she wouldn't understand what River’s meant; which made it hurt oh so much more. While as his head was turned away from Claire, he was completely taken off guard when Claire had suddenly decided to reach out and grabbed a few strains of what would have been his actual hair. Only to catch this act in his peripheral vision that she had taken hold of nothing and that now Seanait was holding onto the sword and staring right at him.

A brow raised as he stared back at Seanait and then over to Claire. His expression becoming scrunched as if heavily contemplating what he was going to say next or even answer such a ‘touchy’ question… To lie or tell the truth…. His posture becoming relaxed as he brushed back the long bangs with his right hand.

“I did have a brother, however he is not the same in this world…. Technically, I never existed in this world, but you know that sense I was fated here with Aria.” Core paused as he ran his hand back down over his forehead and then over his eyes, covering them as he continued. “As for the Captain you are speaking about, that is a little more complicated. He is related to me however, so I hope that answers your question.“ Core shrugged, removing his hand and rubbing the top of his head before looking over at Seanait once again.
“She doesn't know much about me; so don’t feel too threatened by this sword, man, whatever. It’s not every day I get to talk to more than one person at once, so a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well…Miss?…” He replied, knowing very well that Seanait had asked Claire instead of him. A small smile appearing on his lips as he took note of the hesitation and the jealously coming from Seanait as she held onto the handle of his sword.

[Claire]

Claire watched as the range of expressions over the spirit’s face morphed and changed. From cheeky to alarmed to regretful and finally to forlorn. She chewed on her lower lip, something like guilt twisting at the pit of her stomach as he apologized. Right, interacting with a woman who was the spitting image of your dead wife had to be… rough at the very least. She nodded back, showing she understood.

Pure relief came over Claire’s face when Rivers stated that Aria was still alive. Worry quickly came back over her face, her fingers tightening on the hilt of the sword. “Fine as… she is alive and well? Or fine is that she is alive but imprisoned? Or fine as in she is alive and the royalty are inviting her to eat?” she frowned again at the notion of star-crossed, half looking over to Core who was busy hiding his face. “What is- what is star-crossed? That doesn’t make any- ah, forget it. I know he was part of her but they were separated. I thought she might be in danger and would rather have him with me than with that Captain. But he should be dead by now.”

When Shy touched the sword the wry grin came over her face, raising her eyebrows and nodding over to Core. “What did I say? Pretty, right? Like I said before, this is Seanait and she will not appreciate the Miss or My Lady either.” she looked back to Core, frowning a little. “Yes I know you are- that. I still do not quite understand the- the involvement?” she spoke the last word as if she were not certain it was the correct one, “But you did have a brother?” the look of alarm and confusion came back over her face.

“That man is your brother? Noku is your brother?” Claire reached forward once more, pressing her fingertips and then palm against the space where his cheek would be, still feeling nothing. But touch was one of the things she remembered of that other man, especially his face. The man looked so much like that monster that it was disturbing. But the memory of Core’s alarmed look when she had touched his what could be called hair came back to her and she tilted her head, the look of anger fading from her expression. “Can you feel this?”

[Rivers]

Rivers frowns as Claire questions him further about Aria. “Listen Claire I know you do not think highly of me, but I would not be here if Boss was in a situation she could not handle. The only reason I did not break her out of prison when you were being executed is because she told me not to. I think Noku has started to realizing what's going on and that has improved her situation immensely.” He explains as he crosses his arms and lets out a sigh then slumps his shoulders and waves a hand.

“She probably would want you to hold onto it. Either way Boss is probably safer than any of us at the moment.” He frowns as they both question his phrasing. This again, no good saying, he gripes silently to himself. “Don't worry about it, I was making a joke. Apparently for the wrong audience.” He admits then walks over to the pair and places a hand on the hilt looking over at the phantom.

As he sees the man he smirks. “You are certainly a very pretty man.” He admits, a hint of amusement in his voice, but his eyes were sharp as he says. “Careful King, you look like a man who is preparing to chase a phantom, and that's not something you can catch.” He warns.

Rivers lets go but opens a tunnel on the sword so he could continue to see and converse with the phantom while not being directly next to the other two as he had concerns on might deck him if given the chance.

[Deleted]

Séanait nodded, almost dumbfounded, as Claire grinned at her and mentioned how pretty he was. Despite the irrationality of it all, she couldn't help but feel even more jealous now that she had seen Core. Claire seemed to be changing moods around him quite rapidly, from angry to fascinated and then back to angry again. And the way Claire reached out as though to touch his hair...

"Like Claire said, I'm Séanait." She faked a smile and poked at where Core's chest would be if he was solid, "But a handsome guy like you can just call me Shy."

The implication that Core realised that Séanait had feelings for Claire struck home a few moments after she'd introduced herself. Séanait felt herself blush deeply and turned away for a second, looking at Rivers and hoping Claire wouldn't notice. Fortunately, it seemed like Claire wasn't paying much attention to her, because there was a sudden exclamation about Noku being Core's brother.

In between Rivers admonishing Core about chasing phantoms and Claire trying to touch Core (not that Séanait blamed her), Séanait realised that she must have missed some important pieces of information, especially with regards to Rivers calling Core "King".

Pinching the bridge of her nose and sighing, Séanait looked at everyone in turn and then motioned towards her bed.

"How about we sit down for a moment and start all this from the beginning? I feel like there are some important things I'm missing."

[Core Noru]

Core said nothing as Claire spoke towards him and the three within the room. His glowing brilliant baby blue phantom eyes dared not leave Claire’s form as she addressed Seanait and flaunted his appearance to the group. His brow raised with amusement before locking eyes with Seanait. He waited until Claire was finished and Seanait had followed up with her charming introduction. A smile formed on Core’s lips and suddenly he placed his hand over his heart. After all Claire had warned him not to call her or Seanait a ‘lady’ so to show that he understood he nodded and moved a few feet back to give a proper gentleman’s bow.

When he straightened back up to a proper stance his attention fell back on Claire. “It has been many of moons and seasons sense the last time I could feel anyone’s touch. However, I do have phantom memories of how it felt to be touched and the emotions that it still haunts.” Core smiled, turning his attention to Seanait once again as he caught notice of her blush. His eyes widened for a moment before giving Claire a quick glance, before dodging and turning his gaze quickly over to Rivers who had spoken up once again.

“You might be right… But phantom or not…A soul cannot be separated too far and too long from its soul mate. Even you must know that; sense it sounds like that is advice given from one with experience. “ Core spoke directly to River’s his eyes locked with his for a moment with a seriousness to them. Then he smiled and gave River’s a nod. “However, I will take your words of advice and digest them in thought for now. Plus you never know; there is always room to grow new bonds. ” He added turning his attention to Seanait once more. Her jealously brought out the inquisitive side it seemed and Core stared at the woman like a deer caught by surprise. His focus on Seanait as she suggested for them to sit down and explain what was going on. Which forced his gaze to her bed, then animately back to Claire and Rivers before lifting his arms to place them both behind his head.

“I suppose that’s fair.. Claire? Rivers? Would you like to go first?” He asked a big smile on his face.